John Phillip “Phil” Weidler passed away Monday, November 13, 2017.
Phil was born in Palatka, Florida, May 15, 1934, to John Wesley “Jack” Weidler and Malinda Gatlin Weidler. He attended public schools in Perry, Florida, but graduated from Cocoa High School in 1952. He attended the University of Florida before serving in the US Army for two years. He spent fifteen months of his service in Korea. Afterwards, he returned and graduated from the University of Florida in 1958, with a BA in Real Estate and a minor in Economics.
He worked as First Vice President with McKinney-Green as a Mortgage Banker for 46 years where he was an FHA and VA underwriter, specializing in qualifying mostly first time homebuyers. He was a past Rotarian and a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida, where he served on the Board of Governors. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Gainesville for more than 59 years, where he was Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Endowment Board of Directors, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Bible Study teacher, and choir member.
Some of Phil’s interests were jogging, hiking, traveling, reading, square dancing, bird hunting, and fishing.
Phil is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Shirley Zeigler Weidler; daughters Cynthia (Vince) Alderman, Janet (Frank) Johns, Susan (Chris) Whiteside; grandchildren
Phillip (Dani) Alderman, Kristin (Zack) Guenard, Lauren (Zach) Battles, Julie and Lisa Johns, Thomas (Kat) and Michael Whiteside; great-grandchildren Amalia and Daniel Alderman and Imbrie and Wesley Guenard; brothers Darryl (Janet) and John (Shirley) Weidler.
A visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida, at 14105 NW 39th Avenue from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 18, 2017, with a funeral service immediately following in the sanctuary. Afterward, a brief graveside service will be held at Forest Meadows Central at 4100 NW 39th Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida, Endowment Fund or Haven Hospice.
